Chapter Ten #3
Especially with a man she cherished.
This healing was also about finding herself once again, and she’d not only found Elizabeth, but she’d found Ethan too.
It was a new beginning.
“Mr. Blackhawk, you know how to woo a girl,” she admitted, running her fingers over his abs, just to watch them quiver with lust.
Oh, well, his girl deserved this kind of wooing. Ethan wished he’d thought of it sooner. Maybe had he, Elizabeth wouldn’t have been run into the ground with work, worry, and stress.
To share his feelings, Ethan rolled to his side and tucked some of Elizabeth’s hair behind her ears.
When it was the right person, yeah, he certainly did know how to woo the right way.
Now, though, they had to navigate a lot more than just sex. Having that was easy.
Having a solid foundation took work.
It was time to get back to basics, like fostering their relationship.
Because divorce was NOT an option.
Forget that bullshit.
“I’m sorry I hurt you,” he admitted. “Sometimes, we take for granted that strong people also are entitled to moments of weakness.”
She stared into his eyes.
“I barely made it through it.”
Oh, and for that he was so sorry. He, Callen, and Chris failed her on this one. Gene was the ONLY one who had insisted on going with her, and standing by her side.
That was something he couldn’t handle. Chris not going was understandable. Only, he and Callen could have pushed harder, and had her back.
“I’m sorry you had to do it without us. I should have been with you, and I should have carried this weight for you.
I would have done it willingly, especially since he was targeting my daughter.
Charlie is my child, and the mere idea that he was going to hurt her…
that makes me want to do unspeakable things. ”
Well, yeah, that was how she got through doing the ‘unspeakable things’. Elizabeth did it to protect her baby bird.
She was curious.
“Did Gene tell all of you what happened?”
He nodded.
“Yes, but he kept it pretty simple. I need to know one thing. Did you break him like he deserved for what he did to our family, and how he wanted to hurt Charlie?”
She nodded.
“Oh, I broke him good. In the process, I lost a piece of me. I’m disappointed in myself, even though I knew it was us or him. I couldn’t let our kids get hurt.”
He let her talk.
While Elizabeth carried this burden, he wished he could make her see that some animals needed to be put down.
Devon Slater was one.
“I hated it,” she said. “The whole time, I wanted to tag Gene in, but I couldn’t do that to him.”
He stopped her.
And that was the problem.
Elizabeth had backup, but in this case, she chose not to do it. Gene had a sordid history of being a Hunter in NOLA. This was nothing to him.
How did he know?
He said it.
The man didn’t mince words. For his children, THEIR children, he’d gladly cross all kinds of lines.
“Yes, you could have. You can always lean on us, Elizabeth. We’re here for you. Sometimes, we drop the ball, but the bottom line is that you have us. Everyone played a part in getting you here, and getting me here. Just remember that. I know we didn’t reinforce it, but we always have your back.”
She played with a piece of his hair.
“Do you think redheads are sexy?” she asked.
He lifted a brow.
“Uh, I’m naked in a field with a raven-haired hellion, and that should tell you everything about what I prefer in my woman—singular. Why?” he asked, curiously.
Elizabeth shared what she was thinking.
“I was contemplating changing my hair, and maybe experiencing that for a change,” she said, knowing he couldn’t stand blondes, but he’d never said anything about a redhead.
He laughed.
“My girl, because that’s what you are, I’d think you’re sexy bald.
If you want to be a redhead, I say go for it.
I’ll love you no matter what. My wife is hot regardless, and if we’re being honest, when I think about you, and how beautiful you are, it’s your eyes and freckles that lure me in. They are my two favorite parts of you.”
She lifted a brow.
“Not them?” she asked, pointing at her own breasts.
He shook his head.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love them, but your freckles make my heart melt, and that our daughter also has them… so they are my favorite.”
She cuddled against him.
It felt nice having him there with her.
Because the air was chilling, Ethan pulled the corner of one side of the blanket over them.
It was the best he could do.
Then, he was curious.
“Are we sleeping here all night? If so, should I go back to the barn and get more blankets? Oh, and also tell Michael where we’ll be. Old habits die hard with an Archangel.”
Oh, she was aware.
As for the campout…
She shared.
“Graham said snow is coming in tonight. We’ll freeze to death out here. Besides, EJ, we have a perfectly good castle to sleep in.”
Then, they both laughed at that.
Why?
Because the absurdity wasn’t lost on the two people who came from nothing.
And built it all.
One brick at a time.
They were rich but not because of the money.
They were rich because they found love.
AGAIN.